12 Prince Aparajit
Part 12 Prince Aparajit
Khushi came to Ganga's room and got ready. Ganga came to the room. Khushi smiled at her.
"We are leaving... take care of your life and also your husband"
"Will you come to this village again?" Ganga asked.
Khushi got stuck.
"I am not sure Ganga but I will never forget you" Khushi smiled.
"I too can never forget you. If you had not come here, they would have chased me out of my husband's life. As per the commander's order, the doctor took my husband to the village clinic. He got to know the real issue from my husband. It's everything because of you..."
"You are a nice woman who loves your husband sincerely. Only good will happen to you. Give birth to many children and teach them what is intimacy" Khushi laughed and Ganga blushed.
Khushi packed her things in the bag and came out with Ganga. She saw Arnav taking leave from Prithvi. Mrs. Prithvi hurried to Khushi and hugged her.
"Thank you so much. We would have become sinners... if you didn't let us know"
"That's ok Aunty. You are a sweet woman. You have no ego. That's why you accepted your mistake because you truly want your children to be happy. Every selfless mother would be like that"
Not only Mr. and Mrs. Prithvi but also our commander was touched.
"We are leaving" Bending down, Khushi touched Mrs. Prithvi's feet, making Arnav frown. Was not touching elders' feet their country custom? How did Khushi know about it?
"Always be happy..." Mrs. Prithvi blessed her.
Ganga came there with two bronze jars. Taking them from her hand, Mrs. Prithvi gave them to Arnav and Khushi. Khushi frowned as she did not know what it was whereas Arnav drank it in a go. Khushi looked at the jar and asked,
"What's this?"
"It's Bajra Pulp. Very healthy. You would not have drunk it in your country. Drink it. You won't feel hungry because it's good stuff"
"Can I get a spoon?" Khushi asked.
Arnav frowned. Mrs. Prithvi and Ganga spared a glance.
"Spoon? Will you have this pulp with a spoon? Then we will be sitting here until evening" Arnav smiled so did the others.
Khushi made an awkward face and drank it. It was indeed tasty. Curd and finely chopped onion gave it a good flavor. Mrs. Prithvi was right. Khushi felt her stomach full.
"We are leaving..." Arnav said.
Khushi whispered something in Mrs. Prithvi's ear. Nodding her head from left to right, she closed her face with her palms blushingly. Ganga who was standing close to them also heard it and blushed too. Arnav and Mr. Prithvi spared a glance not understanding anything.
"Let's go" Khushi walked out smilingly. Arnav followed her with confusion what did she tell Mrs. Prithvi that made the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law blush?
They took leave from them. Their journey toward the capital started again. Khushi stood next to Arnav, clutching the center post.
"What was that?" Arnav asked.
"She said it was Bajra pulb"
"I am not asking about that"
"Then what are you asking?" She asked looking at him.
"Why did Mrs. Prithvi blush?"
"Oh... That one? Nothing..."
"Did she blush for nothing?"
"No no, there is something that made her blush..."
"What is that?"
"I gave her a TIP"
"What tip?"
Khushi thought for a while.
"Yeah, you to how to know about it. It will be helpful for you in the future"
"In what mean?"
"I asked Mrs. Prithvi to be romantic with her husband. So that her children will be aware of it"
Arnav looked at her dropping his jaw. He nodded his head widening his eyes.
"You too be romantic with your wife. Then your children won't feel awkward about it"
"Then how will they respect me?"
"They will respect you more because nothing other than a loving father makes the children proud and secure. The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother"
Arnav looked at her adoringly.
"How do you get such thoughts?"
"From WhatsApp forward messages" she murmured.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing..."
"Do you always wear such clothes?"
"No... there are a variety of clothes available in our country"
"Then why are you wearing this type of clothes?"
"It will be comfortable for the journey. If I stay at home, I will choose to wear a gown"
"Gown means?"
"Mmm... I will show you after reaching the capital"
"Then?"
"For functions I prefer sarees"
"Do you like to wear a saree?"
"Of course..."
"Our and your country's culture matches most"
"Why not? After all, we are the same country" She again murmured.
"By the way, where will I stay at the Capital?" she asked.
"You will be at Palace... After all, you are our guest"
"Won't you take me to your house?"
"I will take you to my home"
"What will you tell your mother about me?"
"I will tell her you are my friend"
"Do you have the guts to introduce a girl to your mother?"
"What's the big deal?"
"Your country people are so orthodox... that's why..."
"You are from a foreign country. Treating you is our pride. My mother will welcome you wholeheartedly"
"That's nice to hear. Who are there in your family?"
"Father mother and sister"
"Oh, do you have a sister?"
"Yeah..."
"What's her name?"
"Padmaakshi..."
"How old is she?"
"Eighteen"
"Interesting..."
That was when they saw a bullock cart standing at the roadside. It was been tented. A few people, next to the bullock cart were cooking under a tree.
"What was that?" Khushi asked.
"They are coming from their Kuldev temple after offering a goat I suppose"
"How do you say?"
"Look at the tent of the bullock cart"
She saw the big size meat pieces were getting dried, being attached with thick yarn.
"It was the meat of the offered goat. Maybe, it takes two or three days for them to reach their village. Neither they could eat the full goat in a day nor they could waste it. So, they preserved it"
"How do they preserve it?"
"The meat would preserve with turmeric and salt"
"That's all?"
"Yeah, that's all but it should be dried well. It will be lost for six months. Very good for health"
Khushi was awestruck. How many techniques our ancestors had known...! She felt proud.
Their Chariot crossed the bullock cart. People who belonged to the bullock cart stood up and joined their hands. Arnav stopped the Chariot.
"Who are you? Where are you coming from?"
"We are going back to our Village after visiting our Kuldev Temple. It will take two days for us to reach our village. So, we are cooking our food. We will be happy if you join us"
Arnav looked at Khushi.
"Do you want to test the food?"
"Don't take risks, commander. What if they are your enemy?" Khushi warned him.
Arnav smiled at her.
"Come"
She got down from the Chariot and helped her to get down.
Khushi pulled his belt and made him lean towards her.
"Why are you risking?" she asked gritting her teeth.
"They can't be my enemies"
"How do you say?"
"Look at there... only one vessel is there. They already started serving it to everyone. Even children are eating..." He walked.
An elderly woman filled the meat rice in a lotus leaf and was about to give it to a man, Arnav took it from her. She smiled at him and continued her work. Arnav handed the leaf to Khushi.
"See, there is no tension in her face. You can eat"
Khushi started eating the food standing. People looked that her amazingly, including Arnav. As the food was so tasty, Khushi didn't notice their weird look.
Arnav sat down and ate it. Khushi finished eating. Arnav was still eating and half of the food was left in his leaf. She noticed one thing, they didn't eat hurriedly. They chewed the food nicely unlike Khushi who swallowed it quickly. Everything became a hurry these days... She chuckled painfully. How beautiful these people's life was...! They spent three days on kuldev temple trip. No urgency on their faces. They treated the strangers with food with SMILING faces. How generous...! She felt lucky to had a chance to spend with these people.
After completing the lunch, they thanked people and again started.
"Your country's people are so good. They are so good in hospitality."
"It's a normal thing..." said Arnav casually.
Khushi sighed. She could not resist thinking about recent days' people. How everything changed...! No, hospitality, no patience, no tolerance... She sighed. Their journey continued...!
Their Chariot entered into a huge plain ground. Khushi saw a colossal Fort there. She looked at Arnav,
"Have we reached?"
"Yeah..."
"Is this your capital?"
Arnav nodded yes.
"Wow, what a Fort...!"
Arnav Chariot entered the Colossal Fort.
"Are we going to your house or Palace?"
"Palace"
Khushi became excited and also nervous. She could not believe she is going to go to a palace and would meet a king. In nervousness, she didn't look at her surroundings and the town.
She jerked hearing a sudden Drum sound in high pitch.
"What's that?" She asked.
Before Arnav answered her,
"Long live Prince Aparajit..." someone shouted and people joined him.
Khushi wanted to close her ears as she could not stand the noise.
"It seems your Prince also came to the fort," Khushi said.
Without answering her Arnav entered the gargantuan palace. The greetings for the prince followed them throughout the palace.
Arnav stopped the Chariot in front of the entrance and jumped down. He didn't forget to help Khushi to get down. Khushi saw a few women ready with a plate to welcome someone.
"I think they are waiting for Prince Aparajit," Khushi said and stopped moving.
But Arnav didn't stop. He went to the woman who was having a plate in her hand. Bending down, he touched her feet. She kept vermilion on his forehead and said,
"Welcome back Prince Aparajit"
To be continued...
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